The Madurai bench of Madras high court was shocked to hear that 2,7 trees of various species were axed in High Wavy Mountains (Megamalai) in Theni district by a private firm named Dream View Coffee

The government order came last month for the declaration of the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanct­uary under Section 26 A1(b) of the Wildlife (Prot­ection) Act , 1972.

A total of 60,000 green houses meant for the poor in the State will be constructed this year, said Finance Minister O. Paneerselvam.

Inaugurating a free veterinary camp at Koduvilarpatti village near here on Sunday, he said that 1.20 lakh houses had been constructed in the last two years and handed over to beneficiaries.

Rs.7.7 lakh to be spent for setting up plant

The Cumbum Municipality plans to tap solar energy on a large scale to trim its power bill. Initially, solar power would be provided to the municipal office, municipal maternity hospital and the municipal abattoir, said Chairman T.Shiva Kumar. Presiding over a council meeting here on Tuesday evening, he said Rs.7.7 lakh would be spent on setting up a solar power plant for the municipal office and for its computer centre, and Rs.4 lakh would be spent on a solar plant for the maternity home and the municipal abattoir.

The State government will soon come out with a comprehensive organic agriculture policy, according to K. Ramasamy, Vice- Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU).

Addressing the launch of ‘SUSTAIN,’ a Public Private Partnership initiative to deploy innovative drying and storage technology to farmers, Dr. Ramasamy said here on Tuesday that various components of the policy, including the formation of a Department of Sustainable Organic Agriculture and establishment of a Directorate for Organic Agriculture, were under preparation.

To make solar power generation a mass movement

In a bid to encourage more households to set up solar power plants, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced an investment subsidy of Rs. 20,000 per KW. She said it was part of her government’s plan to make solar power generation a mass movement. She also said 11 lakh new electricity connections covering houses, agriculture, commercial and industries would be given in the current year.

One measure adopted was to extend the Health Department’s surveillance from government health institutions alone to include private hospitals capable of treating the disease.

From a level of 22 fresh cases every single day during the months of September to November last year when the epidemic was peaking in the city, incidents of dengue have come down to between zero and two per day during the first week of January.

Industries wonder whether TANGEDCO has a contingency plan in place

With power generation from windmills steadily declining over the last few days, load shedding in southern districts has increased significantly. While the pattern of volatile wind production is a recurring one, industries say the difference this time is that wind season is drawing to a close and power generation cannot be expected to increase again consistently to peak levels.

With the objective of creating awareness on the safe use of electricity and promote the use of high standard electrical appliances, a human chain was formed from Tamukkam to Raja Muthiah Mandram here on Monday.

Organised by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), Madurai Region, the event was part of the Electricity Awareness Week to be celebrated across the State from Tuesday to Monday (August 21 to 27).

The Tamil Nadu tourism department is implementing a Rs 450-crore project along with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In the first phase, the department would take up the East Coast circuit followed by the Southern circuit. The main focus will be on improving infrastructure and safety.

The first meeting of the State Level Steering Committee in this regard was held here on Wednesday. Tamil Nadu is one among the four states selected by ADB for the Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism. TN is the only southern state with the other being Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The programme targets enhanced economic growth and provision of livelihood opportunities for local communities through tourism infrastructure development.